The Holocaust was a dark period in history that saw the systematic murder of more than 100,000 Jews from the Netherlands by the Nazis during World War II. This represented a staggering 75 percent of the Dutch Jewish population, leaving many survivors with nothing as their personal belongings were plundered by the Nazis. A new exhibition in Amsterdam, titled “Looted,” sheds light on the Holocaust through the lens of these material losses.
Organized by the Jewish Cultural Quarter and the Rijksmuseum, the exhibition delves into the personal stories of families and individuals whose artwork, clothing, books, religious items, porcelain, teapots, musical instruments, and other possessions were stolen during this dark period. The aim of the exhibition is twofold: to showcase the systematic nature of the looting of Jewish objects and to explore how these losses impacted the lives of the victims.
Unlike many Holocaust museums and exhibitions that focus solely on the horrors that followed the looting, “Looted” emphasizes the connection between personal belongings and identity. It highlights the profound feelings of loss and erasure that arise when these items are forcibly taken away. The theft of Jewish property was not just impulsive; it was organized, systematic, and carried out with the same efficiency and brutality as the physical genocide.
The exhibition is divided between two locations in Amsterdam. The National Holocaust Museum showcases five of the eight stories, focusing on the restitution of looted art, while the Jewish Museum displays the other three stories, which center on the restitution of Jewish ceremonial objects. One of the poignant items on view is a print titled “Evil-Speaking Little Women” by Dutch artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, a friend and tutor of artist M.C. Escher. Escher managed to salvage the print after the Nazis raided De Mesquita’s home, but tragically, De Mesquita and his family perished in Auschwitz.
Another compelling story featured in the exhibition is that of Max Heppner, whose family fled Germany for the Netherlands in the 1930s to escape the rise of Hitler. Forced to flee once again nearly a decade later, Heppner and his family found themselves hiding in a chicken coop in a small farm town. The exhibition showcases Heppner’s backpack and drawings made during this harrowing period, symbolizing the loss, displacement, and resilience of those affected by the Holocaust.
“Looted” is a powerful and moving exhibition that puts the stories of individuals at its core, highlighting how the theft of personal belongings forever changed the lives of those affected. It is a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the enduring impact of these crimes. The exhibition is on display at the National Holocaust Museum and the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam until October 27th.
